Welcome to the SDSS Family Studies Department!
If you have questions contact us
N. Angus
A. Hatanaka
Follow us on Instagram to see the exciting things happening in our department @sdss_familystudies
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
Specialist High Skills Majors let students focus on a career path that matches their skills and interests while meeting the requirements of the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Students complete a bundle of courses and gain valuable work experience through Co-op. SHSM programs lead to all post-secondary pathways – university, college, apprenticeship, and the workplace.
Why consider SHSM?
This program enables students to:
Customize their secondary school education to suit their interests and skills
Complete sector recognized certifications to build their résumé
Prepare for post-secondary opportunities
Explore and refine their career goals
Earn the SHSM Red Seal designation on their OSSD
Students interested in careers in Health and Wellness and/or Business should speak to Guidance or Co-Op about our 2 SHSM programs.
Family Studies credits that count towards Health and Wellness (SHSM) certification:
- HSP 3U Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology
- HPC 3O Raising Healthy Children
- HHG 4M Human Development throughout the Lifespan
- HFA 4U or HFA 4C Nutrition and Health
Family Studies credits that count towards Business (SHSM) certification:
- HSP 3U Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology
- HNC 3C Understanding Fashion
- HNB 4M The World of Fashion
Google Form to apply for Co-op.
External Links and Resources
- American Psychological Association
- APA Guidelines
- Vanier Institute of the Family
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Statistics Canada
Frequently Asked Questions
The following questions about HFN-1O: Food and Nutrition are from students at Grade 8 Day.
This course will teach about food and kitchen safety, and how to use kitchen tools and equipment to make delicious snacks, meals and desserts. You will also learn about nutrients, Canada’s Food Guide, the Indigenous Food Guide, as well as why we choose to eat certain foods as opposed to others. Later on, you’ll discover which of our foods are grown in Canada and around the world. You’ll learn about the environmental impact of food production, food consumption and food waste. Lastly, you’ll learn why some people have less access to consistent and/or nutritious food.
There aren’t many tests in this course, except the Kitchen and Food Safety Quiz that everyone must complete in order to start cooking in the kitchen. Otherwise, your cooking and baking skills are assessed throughout the semester in food labs. The food labs are a big part of your mark-are you using the skills you are taught; do you work well as a team; can you manage your time; do you practice good kitchen and food safety?
In grade 9 Food and Nutrition, there is one at the beginning to assess your food and kitchen safety knowledge. Any other tests will be based on the teacher and the class. Otherwise, the focus is on hands-on learning.
Yes, there will be homework given from time to time as consolidation practices. For assignments there’s always lots of work periods during class time, but if it doesn’t get done in class, you will have to finish it at home.
Yes there will be both individual and group projects. There are no unit tests.
This is a fun and easy class. You have many opportunities to show your cooking talents, enjoy food that you made, and to work with your classmates. But although it’s an easy course, make sure to hand in all your outstanding assignments to get your credit!
Absolutely!
Some food labs are chosen by the teacher and others get put to a vote. Some of the things we’ve made this year include chocolate chip cookies, tacos, tofu fried rice, pizza, and cupcakes. We are allowed to cook almost everything, but because of food allergies and food preferences, we have to consider recipes that allow replacements and alternatives.
There is no course fee and the ingredients are provided. Anything you and your kitchen team makes is yours to eat!
We have food labs every few weeks, so don’t worry you will have lots of opportunities to cook!
There will be laundry to do after every food lab: aprons, oven mitts, tea towels and dish cloths.
Those mirrors are for you to watch teacher demonstrations.
Future Careers
Social and Human Services
- Case manager
- Community organizer
- Counselor
- Family support worker
- Activity/recreation director
- Administrator
- Advocate
- Grant writer
- Development officer
- Researcher
Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Social Work (MSW)
- All of the above, at MFT or MSW licensed level
- Psychotherapist with individuals, couples, families, and groups
- Clinical case manager
- Psychosocial skills trainer
- Supervisor/manager of therapy/treatment program
- Program developer
- Researcher
- Program evaluator
Community Services:
- Counselor
- Parent educator
- Youth development worker
- Sexuality educator
- Crisis/hotline worker
- Program administrator/director
- Grant-writer
- Development officer
- Program evaluator and researcher (MA/MSW or PhD)
- Clergy, pastoral care
Education
- Certified Family Life Educator (CFLE)
- Teacher – preschool (BA), high school (BA with certification), or higher education (MA/MS or PhD)
- Administrator
- Advocate/policy analyst
- After school program director
- Program evaluator
- Curriculum developer
- School counselor (MA/MS)
- Family support counselor for parents of children with special needs
- Family resource coordinator
- Educational researcher (PhD)